THE BLACK HERMIT
ANALYSIS
AUTHOR: NGUGI
WA THIONG’O
SETTING KENYA
CHARACTERS
REMI – the main
character.
OMANGE – his friend
THONI – his
inherited wife
NYOBI – his mother
JANE – his
girlfriend
PASTOR – the leader of
the church
LEADER – the leader
of elders
1ST ELDER
2ND ELDER
1ST NEIGHBOUR
2ND NEIGHBOUR
WOMAN
ACTS SUMMARY
ACT ONE - THE COUNTRY
Ø Scene I – In the Hut
Thoni and Nyobi are in a hut when Nyobi notices that Thoni has been
crying. She (Nyobi) complains since Remi does not reply the letters she sends
to him. She advises Thoni to find another husband but she refuses. Thoni
believes that Remi hates her. She wonders why men do not rest in her hands.
Then Nyobi gets an idea of asking the pastor to go the city to look for Remi
since he was once a God-fearing child.
The elder comes to ask Nyobi to give them a mother’s blessing to their
traditional medicine that will make Remi come back. Being a Christian she
hesitates a bit but later overwhelmed by a mother’s desire to see her son back,
she betrays her heart, giving the required blessings.
Ø Scene II – A meeting ground. In the Open
The elders of the tribe meet to discuss the return of Remi. They discuss
how the situation is worse to them even after independence. Poor social
services, taxation are just a few. They believe that Remi’s mind was spoilt by
the evil eyes of their neighbours. Then they turn to the mountain to say a
prayer. Then the leader cautions that when Remi comes back he must not fall
under the influence of his mother nor the pastor.
Ø Scene III –The Same.
The pastor meets Nyobi and she confesses that she has betrayed her
faith. The pastor believes Remi was polluted when at the university by engaging
in politics. Then Nyobi asks the pastor to go and look for Remi in the city.
The pastor agrees.
ACT TWO –THE CITY
Ø Scene I – In Remi’s room
Remi is with his white girlfriend in his room. In their conversation
Jane discovers that there is something that has been disturbing Remi for so
long. Jane requests Remi to tell her about his background and she suggests that
Remi should take her to his parents but Remi puts it aside and suggests that
they go to the night club instead.
Ø Scene II – the same room
Remi is visited by his friend Omange and the two discuss a lot about the
political situation in the country. They discuss the dangers of tribalism,
religious factions, and racism. Remi narrates his background to Omange; how he
loved Thoni who got married to his brother and how his brother died. He shows
that according to their custom his father asked him to inherit Thoni and that
is the reasons why he ran to the city. Omange advises him to go back home.
The elders come to persuade Remi to go and save them. They explain to
him the troubles they get just because of his absence. They leave the room
dropping a bundle of medicine at the door way. The pastor comes to see Remi for
the same reason. Eventually Remi promises that he will go back home. The pastor
goes and leaves the bible behind.
Ø Scene III – the same room (a few days later)
Jane visits Remi again and Remi is determined to go home. She insists to
go with Remi but he refuses. She believes may be it is due to their differences
in races that Remi is denying her so she promises to be faithful to him and his
people. She insists that Remi should tell her about his history. Lastly Remi
tells her that he is married. She is disappointed and the two come into a
conflict. Finally Jane runs out.
ACT THREE – THE RETURN OF THE HERMIT
Ø Scene I –Nyobi and Thoni in the hut
Nyobi and Thoni discuss the return of Remi and Thoni is happy. The
pastor joins them and insists it is the work of Christ. The 1st
neighbour rushes into the hut announcing the meeting of so many people who have
come to meet Remi. The pastor narrates how Remi addressed the meeting with a
roar. How he came with a man from another tribe and said he is his brother and
theirs. How he blamed the elders for preaching tribalism etc. Remi attacks the
pastor for dividing people and his mother for making him marry Thoni. On
hearing this Thoni disappears.
Ø Scene II – the same Thoni foretells her death.
Thoni begins thinking of going where no one can find her. She talks to
the woman about her death in a figurative way. The woman advices her to go and
stay with her since Remi is not the only tree under whose shadow she can rest.
She says; goodbye mother, goodbye father, goodbye my village and goes out.
Ø Scene III –the death of Thoni.
Omange and Remi talk about their success in the meeting. They discuss
their future strategies. Omange suggests the state to lead the way and the
Africanist part to give back the settlers land to the people. Then Remi
receives a letter from a woman who blames him for what he did to his tribe.
Omange reads the letter and notices how Thoni expresses her love for Remi. They
begin searching for her and hope that she will be found. Remi regrets for what
he has done. Then four men enter carrying Thoni’s body on a stretcher. Remi
becomes remorseful for what he did to her. His final words are “oh, what have I
done? I wish you sent the letter earlier. But I never gave you a chance, nor
even tried to understand you. I came back to break tribe and custom, instead,
I’ve broken you and me”
CHARACTERIZATION
REMI
Ø He is the son
of Ngome and Nyobi.
Ø He is educated. We are told that he is the only one in his Marua tribe who has had a
chance to go to the university.
Ø He is a betrayer. He betrays Jane by refusing to marry her as he promised. He also
betrays his tribe for not using his education to help them solve their social
problems instead he runs away to the city to enjoy the city pleasures leaving
his people in a bad situation.
Ø He has a changing behavior. At first we are told he is God-fearing, but when he later goes to the
university he abandons religion and becomes an active politician. Also at first
he is shy with girls but later he becomes bold with ladies. Jane confirms this
when she says “you! Shy with girls! And you almost ate me the very day you met
me in the club!” pg20
Ø He is an active member of Africanist Party which is in
power. He has a strong convincing power. He convinces his
people to join the party and they obey him.
Ø He is a revolutionist but uses wrong approaches. He is against tribalism, racism, and religion
factions but wants to bring changes overnight without giving the villagers
enough time to adjust. This makes his strategies to prove a failure.
Ø He is arrogant because of his education. Because of his education he despises the elders
including his own mother. He addresses them without respect and by attacking
rather than educating, something that makes him fail to reach his goals. He
says “there is no time for soft hearts” pg 53 in pg 48 he says “everything will
give way to my leadership”
Ø He is a victim of outdated customs. He is forced to inherit the widow of his late
brother without his consent. He believes the lady does not love him so he runs
away.
Ø He is remorseful (regretful). He seems genuinely remorseful for what he had done
to Thoni. He says “I came back to break Tribe and custom, instead I’ve broken
you and me.” Pg 58
OMANGE
Ø He is Remi’s
friend from Njobe tribe.
Ø He is very wise
and aware of the effects of tribalism, racialism, and religion factions after
independence.
Ø He is a good
advisor. He advises Remi on different matters including going back to his wife
and giving her a chance to express her love to him.
Ø He is after
changes and believes that education is necessary for changes.
THONI
Ø She is a very
obedient village girl who gets married to Remi’s brother.
Ø She is a widow. She lives alone after her husband’s death. She is inherited by Remi
according to the custom but he runs ways leaving her alone.
Ø She has true love. Thoni is portrayed as a person with true love to Remi. Despite the fact
that Remi runs away from her, she is determined to wait even for 20 years. She
does not want to take the third husband as Nyobi advises her.
Ø She is patient and optimistic. Despite the terrible loneliness she is experiencing
she still hopes that one day Remi will come back to her and is determined to
wait for him.
Ø She suffers from intrapersonal conflict. This happens since her husband is dead and now she
faces loneliness. Then her next husband Remi has disappeared. Something that
she might translate that he does not love her. Expressing her situation she
says “why do men not rest in my hands? Death took away my first husband. Now
the next, his brother has left me. The hut’s gloom and loneliness has started
eating into me.” pg 4.
Ø She uses a wrong approach to solve her problem. When Remi comes back and degrades her in public she
decides to commit suicide. This is one of her weakness.
NYOBI
Ø She is the wife
of Ngome and Remi’s mother.
Ø She is a sympathetic and caring mother. She takes care of Thoni like her own biological
child. She wishes to see Thoni having happiness and she is deeply hurt when she
sees the loneliness that Thoni is experiencing.
Ø She is a good advisor. She advises Thoni to take a husband who will restore her happiness.
She also advises Remi to be careful by the way he deals with villagers. She
says to him “My son, don’t be dazzled by the blaze which will burn for the
night and tomorrow it is out.” Pg 48
Ø She suffers intrapersonal conflict. She suffers an intrapersonal conflict after the
death of her son, followed by her husband and the later disappearance of Remi.
Ø She is a Christian. She is a very devoted Christian but at some times because of a mother’s
desire to see her lost son, she blesses the traditional medicine that may help
to bring Remi back. She admits this by telling he pastor; “And I, overwhelmed
by a mother’s desire to see her son back, betrayed my heart, giving the
required blessings” pg 14
Ø She is disappointed by Remi’s changes. She becomes disappointed by the way Remi who was
once God-fearing has changed. She even wonders how Remi talks to her in a rude
way. “You talk to me so? You talk to me so? Pg 48
PASTOR
Ø He is a strong
Christian who mentors Remi to be the future leader of the Church. He even goes
to the city to find Remi for the same reason.
Ø He is against
traditional beliefs although he also takes part in advising Remi to inherit
Thoni.
Ø He is blamed
for causing disunity in the society.
Ø He too is
optimistic. He believes that Remi who was once a God-fearing child will change
and lead the church after he has retired.
JANE.
Ø She’s Remi’s
girl friend in the city working in the office as a typist.
Ø She is anti-racism. She believes that colour differences should not create barriers
between people. She tells Remi “What matters is not race, creed, or custom, but
whether individuals can meet and understand one another” pg 36
Ø She is betrayed by Remi. Jane is betrayed by Remi when the time comes for Remi to go back home he
refuses to go with her.
Ø Finally she
runs away leaving Remi alone.
TITLE OF THE PLAY
The title of the play is “THE
BLACK HERMIT.” A hermit is a
person who, (usually for religious reasons), lives a very simple life alone and
does not meet or talk to other people. The word black here may simply imply an African. That is to say the hermit in this play is an African man
who decides to run away from his society to be alone (hermit) avoiding some
circumstances in his African society. Tracing through the play we can see the
main character REMI running away
from problems in his Marua tribe to
become a hermit in the city as he says himself speaking to Jane “…to be a
hermit means escaping from what is around you. My tribe was around me” Pg 35.
Among the reasons that make the main character to arrive at this decision
include the following.
Ø Remi becomes a hermit because of outdated customs like
widow inheritance. Remi runs to
the city to become a hermit because of being forced to inherit the widow of his
late brother. This can be revealed in his conversation with Jane.
JANE: “you call
yourself a hermit! A black hermit? You are not a hermit. A hermit looks for
truth. You ran away from the truth of your position. Tell me why did you run
away from your wife?
REMI: It wasn’t
a really marriage
JANE: Why not?
REMI: She was
my brother’s widow. I had to marry her. It is a sacred custom of Marua tribe….”
pg 39
Ø Also Remi becomes a hermit because of Tribalism. The tribe wants Remi to rule them because he is the
only one who has university education. They do so because they want someone
from their tribe to represent them in the government, something that Remi is
protesting against. This can also be revealed in his conversation with Jane.
REMI: “…to you
tribalism and colonialism, the tyranny of the tribe and the settler are
abstraction. To me they are real. I have
felt their shaft here. Yes, they have made a wound here, a wound that made me
run to the city.” Pg 36
Ø Remi runs to the city to look for White collar jobs
Additionally, he ran to the city
to get a job in the office and earn a living and stay there forever but later
he is fed up of the city as he says “I hate working for these oil-companies
that have invaded our country. “Files, files, files all day long” pg 21.
SETTING
Ø The setting ofthe play is Kenya after independence. Additionally, the play has employed the
urban and rural settings.
Ø Urban setting
is portrayed by incidents like, night clubs, white collar jobs (like Remi is
working in Oil-Company-), people of different races; these are common features
in towns/cities. On the part of the rural setting there are practices like
traditional customs such as widow inheritance, traditional religion, tribalism,
living in a hut and the like are common in the villages.
STYLE
Ø The playwright
has employed the dialogue style throughout the play. There are few cases of
flashback technique especially when Remi narrates his Brother’s death and back
when he was at the college.
Ø Also we see the
middle of the story is found at the beginning and the beginning is in the
middle of the story. The scene begins by showing Nyobi comforting Thoni who has
been crying, but we do not know why until later when we are told that her
husband died and Remi who was to inherit her has run away. There are also some
cases of foreshadowing. People try to foreshadow the return of the hermit
(Remi) and how he will lead them to victory.
Ø To enrich his
style he has also made use of songs as in page 47 when the villagers sing the
national anthem welcoming the hermit back home. Pg 47
Mungu ibariki Afrika
Ili ipate Kuamka
Maombi yetu yasikize
Uje
Utubariki
Uje roho
Uje roho
Takatifu
Uje roho utubariki
LANGUAGE USE.
Ø The language
used is simple and straight forward. The
choice of words is also perfect since there are words that help the reader to
get the message across easily. Words like tribalism, racism, taxation, forced
community works; bribes etc help us to know the kind of life these people
experience.
Ø There is also
frequent use of religious language
especially by the pastor and Nyobi e.g. “Salvation is not achieved through the
flesh” pg 16. Let us pray, God of Abraham, God of Isaac,” Pg 16
Ø Moreover the
play is full of figures of speech. Some of them are:
FIGURES OF SPEECH
Ø Reiteration.
“Files, files, files all day long” pg 21
“Depends, depends, depends on the kind of kind of
what!” pg 23
“Oh promises, promises. I should have known what
promises mean to you” pg 39
Ø Onomatopoeia
“Cha cha cha” pg 22 (imitating the sound of music)
“Ha, ha, ha,-!” Pg 8 (sound of laughter)
Ø Simile
“A trade union without the right to strike is like a
lion without claws and teeth”. Pg 23
“He became lost to us like a seed which falling on the
wayside lacked nourishment of the rich earth,...” pg 16
“To be like an unwanted maize plant” pg 50
“Falling into bits like a cloth long hung in the sun”
pg 3
Ø Metaphor
“My wound is a woman” pg 25
“She is a seedling whose eventual fruit will be a
blessing to us all” pg 16
Ø Personification
“Your silence touches my heart” pg 29
“Our tribe wails under the new government.” Pg 29
“The tribe waits for you” pg 30
“The world will not wait for you” pg 3
“The bite of the cold wind” pg 38
“The best woman the village has ever borne” pg 54
“It’s all darkness, swallowing you wholly” pg 50
“And now I must go for darkness calls.” Pg 52
Ø Exaggeration.
“Remi your son and ours is the only educated man in
all the land, exceeding in knowledge all the people, black and white put
together” pg 7
“Couldn’t they read my heat?” Pg 26
“The only educated man in the country” pg11
Ø Parallelism.
“To be laughed at, to be flouted, to be driven out,
and by him, my husband.” Pg 50
“Goodbye mother, goodbye father, goodbye my village.”
Pg 52
Ø
Allusion.
“Remi refused to go to Nineveh, he fled to the city of
idolatry” pg 17 (reference to the Jonah saga in the Bible”
“He became lost to us like a seed which falling on the
wayside lacked nourishment of the rich earth, He dried up.” pg 16 (reference to
the Parable of the sower in the bible)
Ø
Euphemism.
“Though your husband was called and also your first
son...” pg 16 (to express that they died.)
“You shy with girls! And you almost ate me the very
day you met me in the club!” pg 20 (referring to the act of making love)
Ø
Oxymoron.
“These eyes have seen rain come and go.”
“Have seen sunrise and sunset.”
“Birth and death alternating” pg 3
Ø Saying.
“A man’s public life is given meaning only by the
stability of his private life.” Pg 32
‘A woman’s joy is scolding her children” pg 3
“A woman without a child is not a woman” pg 3
THEMES IN THE PLAY
AFRICAN TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS.
There are different traditions and customs portrayed in this play. Some
of these traditions give us an impression of cherishing and preserving them for
the future generation and some do not.
(a)
Spouse inheritance (Widow Inheritance)
Ø It is a common
custom among African societies and Marua tribe is no exception. According to
Marua tribe, it is possible to inherit the wife of a brother who is dead. Remi
finds himself faced by this fact when his brother dies of a motor accident and
his father and elders tell him to inherit the wife of his late brother
according to the custom. Speaking to Omange he says, “he called me to his bed
and said: ‘Remi you know our custom. Your brother’s wife is now your wife”’.
This is one of the reasons why Remi runs to the city. This custom is dangerous
especially in this era of HIV/AIDS because more often than not in some cases it
is not possible to know whether the person who died was HIV positive or not. So
it should be discouraged.
(b)
Superstition and witchcraft
Ø In this play it
is shown that the Marua elders believe in the power of Marua medicine. They
believe it has power to work on Remi’s mind and change his attitude and decide
to go back home. As they go to look for Remi in the city one of the elders
carries a bundle of medicine well-wrapped with dry banana leaves. On leaving
the house he drops it at the door way. Pg 31
Ø Moreover the
Marua people believe that the neighbouring communities are jealousy of them.
They even attribute Remi’s disappearance to black magic that might have been
used by their neighbours to turn his mind against the tribe. Pg 7. Also in page
12 the leader says; “who can doubt that Remi’s mind was spoilt by the evil eyes
of our neighbours?” This custom is not
good as it may lead to hatred and unnecessary conflicts among communities just
because of false speculations. So it should be discarded.
(c)
Traditional religion.
Ø In this society
some people are still traditionalists who believe in traditional religion while
others have followed Christianity. For example when the elder talks to Nyobi to
convince her to bless their medicine he says
“Last month our diviner had a message from God. He had vision and there,
he saw the tribe expand, becoming powerful, dominating the whole country” pg 8.
This shows that they believe in their traditional god who decides their future.
Ø Before the
elders leave for the city they go to the mountain to say their prayers. This is
also bad since the mountain cannot hear nor answer their prayers.
(d)
Tribalism and racialism.
Ø Some African societies perpetuate the spirit of
tribalism and racialism. This is very bad custom that has to be stopped. For
example Remi hates this and is trying his level best to stop it. He says “even
at college I hated many small political and social organizations based on tribe
and race” pg 24. He also comes with Omange, a man from Njobe tribe and
introduces him as his brother and theirs too.
Ø Also racism is shown in two ways: Africans don’t want
people from other races; the elder says “and married this woman a daughter of
the tribe, instead of going to a white-skinned woman. We were happy.” page 6.
That’s the reason why Remi refuses to take Jane home because she is different.
Ø Asians ostracize people who cooperate with Africans.
In page 22 Omange says “This affair of an Asian girl who has been ostracised by
her community because she was seen going around with an African is not an
isolated case.”
(e)
Respect to elders/parents.
Ø In this society
or family the young are supposed to respect the elders or parents. Remi accepts
to inherit his brother’s wife at first as a way of showing respect for elders.
Talking to Omange Remi says: “…here were people I was leading. I had asked them
to be true and faithful to the Africanist Party. They had obeyed me. Now they
were asking me to show similar obedience. Finally I agreed to live with her”.
Pg 28
Ø Later when he
stays in the city, without answering his mother’s letters, she considers this
as lack of respect. She says “this world is really bad, not the same as the old
when sons still gave respect to parents…- many letters have we now sent to him,
but no reply. Not a word from him. A child I bore” pg 1. Respect to elders when
the cause is right can be cherished.
(f)
Christianity.
Ever since the coming of the Whiteman, African societies were divided
into two major beliefs. There are those who remained traditionalists following
the religion of their ancestors and those who were converted to Christianity.
In this play both cases are portrayed. The elders represent those who have
decided to uphold their traditional religion while people like Ngome, Nyobi,
Remi and Pastor chose to become Christians. However, in this play the division
is obvious, since religious differences have brought more conflicts and
disunity and have split the country apart.
(g)
Spouse beating.
Although it appears in a nutshell, it cannot be ignored. It seems that
there is spouse beating in this society. Nyobi admits this in page 3 when she
says: “I have tasted the pains of beating, the pangs of birth and death’s blow”
POSITION OF WOMEN IN THE SOCIETY.
ü Women are portrayed as tools for pleasure by men. In this play we see Jane being used by Remi just to
satisfy his sexual desires, but when it comes to the issue of marrying her Remi
refuses. It is then that Jane realizes that she was used as a tool for
pleasure. Jane complains “Ah, Remi, cant you remember all the sweet hours we
had together? Please take me with you don’t leave me here alone.” Pg 35
ü Women are
portrayed as weak individuals. In this
society women are undermined and reduced to properties that can be inherited
when the first owner passes away. This Marua custom does not give a woman a
chance to decide who will be her husband or whether she loves him or not.
Rather she has to conform to the wishes of the elders by marrying the brother
of her husband. However, this custom seems to be one of the major causes of
conflicts since Remi runs away from Thoni believing that she does not love him.
On coming back he gives degrading words that make Thoni commit suicide. It is
also revealed to us by Nyobi that women are beaten ““I have tasted the pains of
beating, the pangs of birth and death’s blow”
ü Women are portrayed as care takers/custodians. Nyobi is portrayed as a mother who takes a good care
of the children. Also she wonders what has become of Remi, her own son since he
does not reply the letters she sends him. She becomes unhappy for this. She
even agrees to bless Marua medicine so that her son may come back. The elders
mock her by saying “Her son is dearer to her than her Christianity.” pg 12
ü Women are portrayed as people with true love. Thoni is portrayed as a person with true love to
Remi. Despite the fact that Remi runs away from her she is determined to wait
even for 20 years. She does not want to take the third husband. She says “I
cannot go to a third husband” pg 2 and she adds in pg 4 “no, no, no, I will not
go with another, but him I call my husband, even if I wait for twenty years and
more I shall bear all” pg 4 When Remi abuses her in public she takes her life
showing that she had a true commitment to Remi.
ü Women are portrayed as sympathetic people. Nyobi sympathizes with Thoni due to her state of
loneliness and even advices Thoni to take another husband to conquer her world
of loneliness. Also the woman advices Thoni not to think of killing herself.
She even invites Thoni to go and live with her.
CONFLICTS.
This refers to the misunderstanding or collision of ideas, viewpoints or
opinions within a person, between or among groups of people in the society. Or
it is a situation in which there are opposing ideas, opinions, feelings or
wishes. Like other plays, in this play there are several conflicts as analyzed
below;
(a) INTRAPERSONAL
CONFLICT.
Due to some circumstances, there are different
intrapersonal conflicts among the following people.
Ø Thoni. She suffers
intrapersonal conflict since her husband is dead and now she faces loneliness.
Then her next husband Remi has disappeared something that she might translate
that he does not love her. Expressing her situation she says “why do men not
rest in my hands? Death took away my first husband. Now the next, his brother
has left me. The hut’s gloom and loneliness has started eating into me.” pg 4.
Ø Nyobi; she suffers
intrapersonal conflict first, due to
the sudden death of her son, followed by her husband and the later
disappearance of Remi. She expresses this by saying “My heart is still heavy
with grief…, my first son, so big and strong was taken from me just like that,…,
our tears had hardly dried before my man follows, and now Remi, …”pg 6
Second, it is with
the way Thoni lives in loneliness, thinking of Remi. She advises her to get
another husband but Thoni refuses to move from one husband to another like a
common whore.
Ø Remi; he suffers
intrapersonal conflict because of the circumstances taking place in the country
and his tribe in particular. That is why he runs awayto find peace in the city
but the problems follow him there. The whole country is suffering from
tribalism, racialism, and religious factions. All Remi is doing, is to not only
expose the cantankerous effects of tribalism, racialism and religious factions
but also to root them out with both hands.
(b)INTERPERSONAL
CONFLICT.
These are conflicts or misunderstanding between two people.
ü There is a
conflict between Remi and Jane. This occurs when Remi wants to go back home and
refuses to take Jane with him. It grows bigger when Remi tells her that he is
already married and Jane becomes angry since Remi has wasted her time lying to
her that he would marry her. She says to Remi “do you honestly believe that
race matters, that the colour of my skin or yours should form a barrier between
people?” Pg 36
ü There is a
conflict/misunderstanding between Remi and Omange. Remi wants the government in
the new independent country to be strict. E.g. People have no right to oppose
the government; workers have no right to strike for higher wages. Omange
opposes this idea by saying that trade union must have the right to strike and
demand for their rights. For him “a trade union without the right to strike is
like a lion without claws and teeth” pg23
ü There is also a
contradiction on the question of marrying Thoni. Remi believes that she does
not love him or else she wouldn’t have married his brother. Omange tells him to
give her a chance to express her love to him since one cannot read someone’s
heart or feelings merely by appearance.
(c) FAMILY CONFLICT
There is a family conflict between Remi and his mother. This occurs when
Remi runs away and leaves Thoni in loneliness and on coming back he attacks his
mother in public. Remi says “And you mother. I turn to you. What did you do to
me? You harped on my weakness and made me marry a woman whose love and loyalty
will ever lie with those in the grave”. NYOBI replies “you talk to me so? You
talk to me so?” pg 48
(d)CULTURAL
CONFLICT.
There is an obvious conflict between traditionalists who follow
traditional ways of life and Christians. When discussing the coming of Remi,
the elders want Remi to be on their side, and lead them as a tribe to victory
and want him to stay away from his mother and the pastor. On the other hand the
pastor wants Remi to be the future leader of the church. He sees politics as
something bad and urges that he should stay away from the tribal influence.
This causes segregation and disunity among the people.
(e) POLITICAL
CONFLICT.
There is a conflict between the new government and the citizens. The
conflict arises from the fact that they fought for independence thinking that
things will change when they get independence. But to the common people life is
still hard as they have no land, taxation is a burden to them while the
ministers and their Permanent secretaries fatten on bribes and inflated
salaries. Independence has not reduced the amount of racial tension. Omange
says “since independence tribalism and tribal loyalties seem to have increased.
And even the leaders who were the supporters of the Africanist Party are the
very ones who are encouraging these feelings” pg 23. Also the government has
enacted a legislation against strikes. That is why even Marua people want Remi
to represent them in the government so that they can also enjoy the national
cake.
(f) SOCIAL
CONFLICT.
There is a conflict between Remi and his society. This results from the
approach in which Remi addresses the people without respect. He attacks them
for perpetuating tribalism, religious differences and shackles of custom. He
says “I will no longer be led by a woman, priest or tribe. I will crush
tribalism, beneath my feet, and all the shackles of custom.” Pg 49. They all
wonder how he could be so rude to them. The pastor narrates how he addresses
the people with anger that some elders go away in guilt and shame. Pg 47
DISUNITY
Ø This implies a
lack of agreement between people. Disunity has become a major barrier to the
struggle for change in the country. This problem is caused by tribalism,
racialism and religious factions. This has become a real obstacle in fighting
for their rights. Remi is used by the playwright as his mouthpiece to condemn
racialism, tribalism and religious factions in this society. To show that he
hates this division and wants to inculcate the spirit of nationalism he says:
“we must help ourselves…. Turn hearts and minds to create a nation, then will
tribe and race disappear. And man shall live free..” pg 48. Then he advises the
pastor. “Even you, Pastor. You and other Christians must not live isolated. We
must join hands..” pg 48
Ø To show his
hatred for tribalism he comes with a friend from another tribe (Njobe tribe)
and introduces him as their brother. He tells the people to build more schools
as education is the key to success.
BUILDING THE FUTURE
Remi is struggling to build a better future for his society. He wants
people to develop and be free. They suggest some of the ways through which they
can bring changes.
Ø People must be
united and work cooperatively.
Ø Tribalism,
racism and religious differences must be crushed down.
Ø Education
should be insisted as an instrument of change in the country.
Ø The state must
play its part by leading the way. Omange suggests for instance that “the
Africanist Party must first give back the settler’s land to the people.
Illiteracy ought to be abolished within a year otherwise they’ll revert to
tribalism and religion as a cure for their ills” pg 53
However, changes must go step by step. Remi is too fast in his
approaches. He attacks the leaders and other people instead of educating them
first, the cantankerous effects of Racism, tribalism and religious differences.
As a result he jeopardizes his relationship with other members including his
own family members. He admits by saying “I came back to break tribe and custom,
instead I’ve broken you and me”. This is to say his intention was right but he
used a wrong approach.
PROTEST
This is the expression of strong disagreement with or opposition to
something. People in the play show protest against unfair new Blackman’s government
in the country which practices the colonial regime.
ü They protest
against exploitation through heavy taxation. They say that independence has
brought them “heavier and heavier taxation” pg 11
ü They protest
against land alienation. It is shown that the land has been taken by the
settlers and the people who fought for independence have no land. They ask
“look at our country since independence. Where is the land” pg 11
ü They protest
against poor social services like schools, hospitals etc. they ask; “where are
the schools for our children?” pg 11
ü They protest
against oppression. They are made to work for long hours without pay.
ü They protest
against poor living condition. They condemn the government for telling them
about roads while they are hungry. “we are told about roads, about hospitals;
but which hungry man wants a road?” pg 11
ü Remi protests
against tribalism by the leaders, religion isolation by the pastor and other
Christians and racism.
ü Remi also
protests against some tribe customs like widow inheritance. He decides to run
away from home to avoid such outdated customs.
THE INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION.
Ø In this play
education has been portrayed as an important tool in bringing awareness. Remi
is aware of many political and social affairs because he is educated. He joins
the Africanist Party and becomes an active politician. He realizes the dangers
of tribalism, racism and religion factions in the building of a nation.
Ø Also through his
education he gets a job in the Oil-Company but later realizes that it is
exploiting the country.
Ø Education has
given confidence to Remi to attack any challenging situation and he is even no
longer shy to face girls. He also boldly attacks the elders and the pastor
simply because he is more educated than anybody else in his tribe.
Ø Nevertheless,
his education has made him proud and boastful, feeling superior to the
villagers. He wants to abolish all tribe customs at once and introduce new
lifestyles without giving the people enough time to adjust themselves. He
speaks harshly to the elders and to his mother and rejects Thoni in public.
This is arrogance as a result of negative influence of education.
TRIBALISM
Ø This society
seems to be affected by tribalism to a large extent. The elders especially are
more affected. They do not view things as a nation but as a tribe. That is one
reason why Remi decides to act against them. They want him to be in the
government to represent their tribe interest. For example the leader says; “not
one of our skin and blood is in the new government” pg 30.
Ø Moreover when
they go to persuade Remi to come back to the village, this is all they have got
to tell him “We want a tribal political party” another adds; “A Prime Minister
from the tribe”. Pg 31. This is one of the dangerous enemies to nation building
which must be discarded if we want to create a spirit of nationalism.
CORRUPTION
Ø Though it does
not appear throughout Remi points it out in his conversation with Jane. He
shows that the government officials enjoy good life just because they take
corruption (bribe) while workers like teachers starve. In page 21 when Jane
suggests that he should go back home and become a teacher he says “And starve –
while ministers and their permanent secretaries fatten on bribes and inflated
salaries”
CLASSES.
Just like most societies, in this country also there are classes. There
are classes based on economic status and those based on faith (religious
differences).
Ø The rich and the poor.
There is the class of the rich people comprising the
leaders, settlers and other company owners who enjoy the national resources by
paying themselves high salaries and engaging in corruption. On the other hand
is the class of the poor citizens who are exploited through, forced community
work, low wages, taxation, land alienation and have generally poor living
conditions and inadequate social services like schools, hospitals and the like.
Ø Christians and traditionalists
Another class division in this society is between the
Christians being represented by the pastor, Nyobi, and other converts, and the
non-Christians (traditionalists) being represented by elders. The playwright
shows that the division is so severe and intense to the extent that the
Christians isolate themselves from other people. Their division is even seen in
the way they want to influence Remi when he comes back. Christians do not want
him to fall under the influence of elders while elders also do not want him to
fall under the influence of Christians.
So generally we learn that class division is not healthy in any society
that wants to get sustainable development since they become their own enemies
instead of becoming the authors of their own destiny.
BETRAYAL
There are also cases of betrayal in this play.
ü First, Remi betrays
Jane by refusing to marry her as he promised. Remi promises Jane to marry her
when the time is ripe and the two spend time together as lovers. When the time
comes for Remi to go back home he tells Jane that he is already married and
cannot go with her. She complains; “Just now you are betraying the ideals you
used to mirror before my eyes” pg 36
ü Second, Remi also
betrays his tribe for not using his education to help them solve their social
problems instead he runs away to the city to enjoy the city pleasures leaving
his people in a bad situation.
ü Third, the government
has betrayed the citizens. During the struggle for independence the people were
asked to join the nationalistic movements and they agreed, later on their
situation remains unchanged after independence. For example they complain,
“Look at our country since independence. Where is the land? Where is the food?
Where are the schools for our children? pg 11
This is to say the promises for which they fought have been betrayed.
ü Forth, Nyobi betrays
her Christian faith by blessing traditional medicine. When the elders tell her
that they want to bring Remi back but they want a mother’s blessings to attend
them on that difficult journey, she says “with all my heart, go in peace, and
success attend you” having discovered her fault she regrets “I know Christo
hates our medicine. Suppose God punishes me so that Remi does not come back?”
Finally they mock her by saying “Her son is dearer to her than her
Christianity” pg 12+
MESSAGES
ü Running away
from problems is not a way of solving them.
ü We do not solve
problems by committing suicide.
ü Outdated
customs like widow inheritance and superstitious beliefs bring more problems to
the society so they should be discarded.
ü Bringing about
changes is not an overnight process. It needs time, determination, focus and
patience.
ü Tribalism,
racialism, disunity and religious conflicts are obstacles to development.
ü Betrayal is not
good as it causes unnecessary conflicts.
ü We should use
our education positively to bring about changes.
ü Classes should
be discouraged as they bring disunity in the society.
RELEVANCE
The play is relevant in a number of ways:
1.
There are people who run away from problems as a way
of avoiding them but finally they find themselves haunted by the same problems.
2.
There are people who commit suicide as a way of
solving their problems.
3.
Betrayal is common among African countries
particularly Tanzania. The leaders do not fulfil their promises to the
citizens.
4.
Widow inheritance is still a common custom among many
Tanzanian tribes like the Kuryans of Lake Zone.
5.
There are people who still believe in superstition and
witch craft as a way of solving their social problems.
6.
Racism and tribalism are still common phenomena in
some African countries like South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, etc.
7.
The newly post-independent governments in Africa have not
solved the people problems yet. Only those in power are enjoying life while the
common people are suffering.
